Feeding apparatus



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FEEDING APPARATUS "C LO LYS Syvum/Hofe 33 FRANK SLAMPARD Patented Aug. 22,1195() FEEDING APPARATUS Frank S. Lampard, Zelienople, Pa., assignor to Mathews Conveyer Company, Ellwood City, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 22, 1946, Serial N 0. 656,323

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for feeding metal stock to a tool and particularly concerns a machine for feeding a metal tube or other cylindrical article into a swaging machine.

In the manufacture of `metal tubes, it is the practice to point the tubes so they may be readily entered into a draw bench. The pointing operation has generally been accomplished by manually feeding the metal tube into a swaging machine and simultaneously turning the tube so it is uniformly pointed by the jaws of the swaging hammer. In some instances, a chuck has been utilized to hold the tube and feed it into the swaging machine and the chuck itself is rotated to turn the tube. When a chuck isA used, it is necessary first to carefully align the chuck with the swaging hammer and then insert the tube into the chuck. After the swaging operation is completed, the tube must be withdrawn from the chuck. Insertion and withdrawal of the tube are awkward operations involving diiiiculties and delays which are undesirable. Furthermore, the chuck is subjected to considerable wear and tear from the shock of the blows struck by the swaging hammer on the end of the tube and transmitted by the tube to the chuck.

In order to make full use of continuous con- Veyer systems in the manufacture of metal tubes and other similarly shaped articles, it has become desirable to reduce the time delay cf inserting the article in a chuck before feeding it to the swaging hammer. It is also desirable to eliminate manual operations by the use of automatic or semi-automatic devices.

It is a major object of this invention to provide improved feeding apparatus particularly adaptable for use in continuous type conveyer systems in which a tube may be easily supplied to the apparatus, quickly fed to a tool, and also easily discharged from the apparatus when the work of the tool is completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus usable in a continuous conveyer system for feeding a metal tube-like article to a tool and simultaneously turning the article as it is fed to the tool.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved and more durable feeding apparatus for a tube-like article by arranging a support on which the article may rest on a pair of rotating rolls for turning the article as it is fed to a tool, such as a swaging hammer.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved feeding apparatus for a tube-like article in which the article rests on a support and is fed axially by a pusher element exerting thrust or endv/ise pressure on one end of the article.

A still further object of the invention is to reduce the transmission of impacts from a swaging hammer to the feeding apparatus by supporting the article being fed so it rests in a nonrigid position on a pair of rotating rolls in the feeding apparatus, thereby avoiding the direct transmission of the hammer impacts on the article to the feeding apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, particularly with regard to the arrangement and cooperation of the various parts, will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan drawing showing the track and related structural elements forming the foundation of Va feeding apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig.' la is like Fig. l, but shows the withdrawn positions of the carriages;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation drawing showing in outline a complete machine for feeding metal tubes to a swaging hammer in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2a is like Fig. 2, but shows the carriages as shown in Fig. 1a;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation View of the main supporting carriage shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the main supporting carriage shown in Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is an end view of the main supporting carriage as seen from the right-hand side of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the main supporting carriage taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the pusher car shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, some parts being broken away for purposes of clearness;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the pusher car shown in Fig. '7, some parts being broken away for purposes of clearness;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section through the pit running between the tracks for the machine, showing the tracks and other associated structural elements which form the foundation of the feeding apparatus shown diagrammatically in Figs. l'

and 2;

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing piping and cable connections between control devices and pneumatic cylinders that provide power for operations of the feeding apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system for adjusting the vertical position of supporting rollers in the main supporting carriage shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of feeding apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 13 is a plan View of the feeding apparatus shown in Fig. l2;

Fig. 13a is a partial cross-sectional View taken on the line |3a-i3a of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13b is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line ISD-|31) of Fig. 13a;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on the line |4-|4 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on the line |5|5 of Fig. 12; and l Y Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram showing piping connections between controhdevices andvpneumatic cylinders that provide power for operation of the feeding apparatus shown in Fig. 12.

According to the invention, two supporting rollers are mountedV side by side in a carriage thatmoves along a track toward andA away from a tool such as a swaging hammer. This pair of rollers receives a metal tube or other article from a receiving arm and holds it in substantial alignment with the tool with the heavier end of the article being disposed toward the steadying rollers and the tool.

The supporting rollers are driven from a motor to turn the tube as it is fed into the swaging hammer. As the carriage movesto feed the tube to the swaging machine, a pusher member engages the trailing end of the tube. This pusher member moves with the carriage to supply the thrust required to force the tube into the hammer.

While it is recognized that some features of the invention are generally applicable to other types of feeding apparatus, the drawings illustrate preferred forms of the invention embodied in apparatus for feeding a metal tube to a swaging machine for pointing the end of the tube.

General structure .Figs. l and 2 are diagrammatic drawings of feeding apparatus having a foundation formed by a track consisting of laterally spaced rails 2| and 22 arranged on shoulders on opposite sides of aA pitl 23, which may be formed in the door so the track is below floor level. The rails 2| and 22 provide a runway for a supporting carriage, designated generally at 24, which may carrya metal tube, indicated by dash lines atY 25. The supporting carriage 24 moves along the track to feed the tube 25 axially into a swaging hammer 26. At the same time, the tube is turned, by apparatus to be described, as it is fed into. the hammer to produce a uniformly .pointed end on the tube. In order to supply the thrust necessary to force the tube axially into the swaging machine, a pusher carriage, designatedv generally at 21, also moves along the rails 2| and 22 and hasy a pusher member 28 movable on the pusher carriage to engage and supply endwise pressure to the trailing end of the tube 25.

The supporting carriage 24 and the pusher carriage 21 are coupled together, as, for exam-ple, by pins 3| and 32, which secure the respective carriages to a shifter rod 33 arranged between the track rails. As may be seen most clearly in Fig. 9, the shifter rod 33 is formed of a pair of laterally spaced channel members 34 and 35 having their upper anges connected by a plate 36. For purposes of rigidity, a number of cross members 39 may be connected between the webs of the channels. To provide a slidable support for the shifter rod 33, a plurality of pairs of rollers 4| and 42 on brackets 43 and 44 are arranged at spaced intervals on channels 45 and 46, which are carried in upright supports 5|, 52, 53, 54 and arranged at longitudinally spaced intervals in the pit 23. The rol1ers'4l, 42 are mounted for rotation about transversely disposed horizontal axes and nt between the flanges of the channels 34 and 35, permitting free longitudinal movement of the shifter rod 33 along the track.

A plurality of holes 38, 38 are formed in the plate 36 of the shifter rod 33 to receive the pins 3| and 32 for coupling the two carriages. The supporting carriage 24 and the pusher carriage 21 may, therefore, be coupled in any desired spaced .relation by the shifter rod to accommodate tubes of any desired length. Two positions of the pusher carriage are shown in Fig. l. The position of the carriage 21 shown in full lines is for relatively short tubes. For longer tubes, the pusher carriage may be coupled at the end of the shifter rod 33 as indicated by the position of the pusher carriage at 21' indicated by dotted lines.

As will appear from the detailed description of the supporting carriage, the tube 25 is arranged in substantially balanced fashion on the supporting carriage 24. For this reason, the spacing between the pusher member 28, on the pusher carriage 21, and the main carriage 24 somewhat critical, depending upon the length of the tube. Hence, the holes 38 are arranged at short intervals to permit coupling the two carriages in correctly spaced relation.

In order to move the supporting carriage and the pusher carriage 21V along the rails 2| and 22 for feeding the tube '25 into the swaging hammer 26, a -power cylinder 58 is preferably operated by pneumatic pressure transmitted through conduit 59 to a series of control valves within housing 6|. These valves may be arranged to selectively supply pressure by way of conduits 63 and 64 to opposite ends of the power cylinder 58. The power cylinder 58 has a piston rod 65 connected by brackets 65 and 51 to the shifter rod 33. When the shifter rod 33 is moved by operation of the power cylinder 58, it moves the supporting carriage and the pusher carriage together `along the track.

Supporting carriage The supporting carriage 24 is shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive of the drawings and has a main base frame, designated generally at 1|, composed of two pairs of longitudinally extending channel members 12, 13 and 14, 15 secured in transversely spaced relation by cross members 11, 11 To support this frame 1| for movement along the rails 2| and 22, flanged wheels 18 and 19 are journaled 'between the channels 12 and 13 on one side of the carriage and wheels 8| and 82 are journaled between the channels 14 and 15 on the opposite side. An upper portion of the main frame is formed of longitudinally extending angles 83 and 84 supported on the base frame by upright members 85, 85 and connected by a plurality of cross members 86, 86 to rigidly hold the longitudinal angles in transversely spaced relation.

VA movable frame, designated generally at 8|, has an upper platform formed of a plate 92 and a lower platform 93 connected by 'vertical members 94 and 95. This movable frame 9| is in the nature of a sub-assembly or 'sub-frame which is slidable vertically with respect to the main frame. The movable frame 9| is guidedby four vertically disposed angle members 95, 91, 98 and 99 mounted on the main frame 1| and is squared horizontally by a torque shaft 4 I which is connected, as by links |42 and |43, to the upper platform 92. The torque shaft |4| is arranged to slide in grooves formed by the horizontal flanges of angle members 83 and 84 and horizontal fianges of angle members |44 and |45, which are mounted on the angles 83 and 84 and spaced below the horizontal lianges thereof.

. The upper platform 92 of the movable frame 9i carries horizontally disposed supporting rolll ers |9| and |92, which are preferably rubbertired. These supporting rollers are mounted side by side on parallel shafts |03 and |04 carried in suitable bearings |06, |01 and |08, |09 for rotation about laterally spaced longitudinal axes. A motor which may be electrically lcontrolled to rotate a tube at various speeds, is carried by the movable frame 9| on the lower platform 93 and has its drive shaft ||2 keyed to one plate H3 of a resilient coupling H4.

The resilient coupling |4 includes a spring l5 connected between the plate 3 and a similar adjacent plate H5, which is freely rotatable on the drive shaft i2. These plates are arranged in scissors fashion so power from the motor is transmitted by plate ||3 through the spring ||5 to turn the plate H5. A sprocket ||1 is secured to the plate |59 so it is driven by the resilient coupling H4 from the motor The sprocket ||1 is arranged to drive chain H8, which drives sprockets ||9 and |2|, on the shafts |03 and |94, respectively. In this manner, shafts |03 and |94 rotate the rubber-tired rollers |0| and |92 to turn the tube 25 as it is fed to the swaging machine. In order to adjust the slack in the chain H9, a take-up sprocket H9 is pivoted by link` |25 to the vertical member 94 of the movable frame and is adjustable vertically by a bolt |22 and a nut |23 secured to the upper platform 92.

The vertical position of the movable frame 9| with respect to the main frame 1| may be varied by manipulation of a hand pump |25 (Fig. 11). rihis pump supplies pressure iiuid through a valve |29 to a pair of hydraulic cylinders |21 and |28 having their lower ends pivotally connected, as at |29 and |3|, to brackets |92 and |33 on the channel members 13 and 14 of the main frame. Piston rods |34 and |35 of the hydraulic cylinders |21 and |23 are pivotally coupled, as at |36 and |31, to the upper platform 92 of the movable frame 9|. When pressure fluid is supplied from the pump |25 to the cylinders |21 and |28, piston rods |34 and |35 raise the movable frame 9| with respect to the main frame 1|.

The purpose of the vertical adjustment of the movable frame 9| is to facilitate alignment of the rollers Il and |92 with the swaging hammer 29 so a tube supported on the rollers will enter between the jaws of the hammer. As the tube is fed into the swaging hammer, the rotation of rollers and |92, driven by the motor acts to turn the tu e with respect to the swaging hammer. When the jaws of the swaging hammer strike and grip the tube, rotation of the tube is, of course, momentarily arrested. In order to avoid damaging the rubber-tired rollers |9| and |92 or stalling the motor |I|, the resilient coupling- H4 permits the tube and rollers to stop rotating without interrupting operation of the motor during the brief intervals that the swaging hammer -grips the tube.

The tube 25 may -be placed on the rubber-tired rollers |9| and |02 so it is exactly balanced. However, it is preferable to have the tube slightly unbalanced, with its heavier end toward the swaging machine 25 so it may rest on a pair of steadying rollers |46 and |41. These steadying rollers are mounted on shafts |48 and |49 for rotation about laterally spaced longitudinal axes. The shafts |48 and |49 are carried by frames |5| and |52, which may be relatively adjusted transversely of the supporting carriage by turning hand crank |53 connected to a lead screw |54 threaded through the frames |5| and |52. In this manner, the lateral spacing of the shafts |48 and |49 may be adjusted according to the diameter of the tubes that are being fed to the swaging machine.

The frames |5| and |52 for the steadying rollers are carried by a bracket |55` pivoted between larms |51 and |58, which are fixed on shaft |59 ually controlled pump |25, which is connected through valve |56 to the hydraulic cylinder |64 having its cylinder pivotally connected at |91 to one arm |98 of a bell crank |59. The bell crank |99 is pivotally mounted at |1| in the main frame and has its other arm |12 connected to one end of a tension spring |13, the other end of which is connected by eye-bolt |14 to the upper portion of the main frame. By placing the spring |13 under an initial tension, a resilient mounting is pro# vided for the steadying rollers.

When a tube to be pointed is resting on the rubber-tired rollers |0| and |92, the steadying rollers and |41 may be raised by operation of the hydraulic cylinder to support the heavier end portion of the tube as it is fed into the swaging rubber-tired rollers |9| and |02, the shock of the swaging hammer striking the tube will not be transmitted through these supporting rollers to the supporting carriage. The steadying rollers |49 support one end of the tube just above the lower jaw of the swaging hammer so they receive a substantial jar each time the jaws close to strike the tube. Since the steadying rollers are spring reacted, the eiects of Ythe hammer blows Y are substantially absorbed. In this way, spring |13 provides a resilient cushion that absorbs impacts affecting the steadying rollers |45 and |41 and prevents these impacts from being transmitted to the remainder of the supporting carriage.

As has been previously stated, the present invention is particularly intended for use in connection with continuous type conveyer systems. Tubes may be rolled one at a time, either auto-` matically or manually, onto receiving arms |,8|.

and |82, which are affixed, as by welding, to a shaft |83 extending longitudinally along one side of the main frame. The shaft |83 may be mounted for rotation in bearings |84 and |85 carried on the upper portion of the main frame. The receiving arms are arranged at opposite ends of the supporting carriage and are provided with depressed portions |81. The shaft |83 is normally positioned so the depressed portions of the receiving arms |8i and |82 will hold the tube just above the rubber-tired rollers and |02 and the steadying rollers |46 and |41 as shown in Fig. 5.

After a tube is placed on the receiving arms |8| and |82, the shaft |83 is turned to lower the arms and rest the tu-be on the supporting rollers. The receiving arms then descend to a lower position as shown in Fig. 6. To move the receiving arms in this manner, a power cylinder |88 is carried on the main frame 1| of the supportingr carriage by brackets |90, |90. The cylinder |88 has its piston |89 pivotally connected, as at |9|, to a pair of arms |92, |92 fixed on the shaft |83 for turning the shaft to raise or lower the receiving arms. The power cylinder |88 is preferably pneumatically operated by compressed air supplied through armored cable |93 to a solenoid-operated control valve |94 carried by the main frame 1| of the supporting carriage. As shown in Fig. 10, this valve controls the distribution of the compressed air to the power cylinder |88 and thereby controls the direction of movement of the piston rod |89.

In order to discharge the tube 25 from the supporting carriage 24 after the swaging operation is completed, discharging or kick-out arms |91 and |98 are rigidly mounted, as by welding on the end portions of a shaft |99. The shaft |99 extends along the opposite side of the supporting carriage from the shaft |83 and is rotatably mounted in bearings 20| and 202 carried on the upper portion of the main frame. The shaft |99 is normally positioned to hold the .discharging arms below the tube 25 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Upward movement of the kick-out arms to discharge the tube is effected by a power cylinder 203 carried on the main frame 1| by brackets 201, 201 and having its piston rod 204 4pivotally connected at 295 to a pair of arms 206, 208, also xedly mounted on the shaft |99. The power cylinder 203 is preferably pneumatically operated by compressed air supplied through the armored cable |93 and distributed by a solenoidcontrolled valve 208 to control the direction of movement of the piston rod 204. As the piston rod 204 moves, it acts through arms 236, 208 to rotate the shaft |99 and thereby raise or lower the kick-out arms |91 and |98, depending upon the direction in which the piston rod is moved.

The supporting carriage may be coupled to the shifter rod 33 by placing the pin 3| through a hole 2|0 formed in plate 209 extending rearwardly from the main base frame 1| Pusher carriage carriage to support it forrolling movement along the rails 2|, 22. Two channel members 22 and 222 are arranged in vertically spaced relation so their adjacent flanges form a guideway extending longitudinally along one side of the pusher carriage. Two other channel members 223 and 224 are similarly arranged on the other side to form another guideway. These guideways provide laterally spaced parallel tracks permitting longitudinal movement of a pair yof transversely disposed rollers 225 and 228 extendring between angle members 221 and 228. These angle members form a movable frame supported by the rollers 225 and 226 for longitudinal movement with respect to the base frame 2|| of the pusher carriage. This movable frame is retained in a centrally located position by a pluralityof roller flanges 229, 229, which may be Welded on the faces of the rollers 225 and 228 in position to engage the web portions of channel members 22|, 222 and 223, 224.

A rod 23|, which is journaled in the angle members 2-21 and 228, carries a pair of upright angle members 232 and 233 supporting the pusher member 28, which is formed by a cylindrical target element 235 mounted on a plate 23B fastened to the upright members 232- and 233. The upright members 232 and 233 are secured to horizontal angle members 231 and 238, as well as a pair of braces 24| and 242, to form a rigid framework pivotally supporting the pusher member 28 on the movable frame of the pusher carriage. The target element is normally retained in an upright position by a compression spring 243, which is arranged between the angle member- 231 and the angle member 221 of the movable frame, as well as a similar spring 243 that is arranged between the angle members 228 and 238, the vsprings being normally precompressed by a bolt, such as that shown at 244, which is threaded in a nut 245.

To eifect reciprocation of the movable frame carrying the pusher member 28, a power cylinder 2,41 is carried in a horizontal position on the main frame 2|| by brackets 248 and 249. This power cylinder 2,41 has a piston rod 25| coupled to a block 252 extending between and fastened to plates'253 and 254, which depend from the movable frame carrying the pusher member 23. These plates 253 and 254 are arranged to transmit the motion of the piston rod 25|v directly to rod 23| for moving the movable frame longitudinally on the pusher carriage. In this manner the target 235 may be moved over the end of a tube and the pusher member moved into engagement with the end of the tube.

When the tube is thus contacted by the plate 230 of the pusher member 28, the framework pivots on the rod 23| against the action of the compression springs. When this occurs, a switch 255, which is mounted on angle member 238 and has its actuating lever 255 connected to angle member 228, is operated to arrest further longitudinal movement of the movable frame so the pusher member 28 is held by compression spring 243 against the end of the tube.

Power for the cylinder 241 is supplied through cable 29| and is preferably in the form of compressed air from the same source as that which supplies the other power cylinders in the apparatus. Since this cable 25| must be long enough to reach between the carriages 24 and 21 when they are spaced a maximum distance on the shifter rod 33, an adjustable cable support 262 is pivoted, as at 263, in a bracket 234 carried bythe main frame 2|| of the pusher carriage. The cable support 262 has a pulley266 rotatable in a bracket 261 at its upper end. The position of this pulley 266 may be raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder 268, which is connected between the main frame 2| and the cable support 262. The operation of the hydraulic cylinder is controlled by a manually operable pump 269, which may be actuated by lever 21| to supply hydraulic fluid through conduit 212 to the cylinder 268. When the distance between the carriages is shorter, the pulley 268 on the cable support 262 is raised; and when this distance is greater, an exhaust valve may be opened by operation of handle 214 to lower the pulley 266.

The pusher carriage 21 may be connected at any point along the shifter rod 33 by inserting the pin 32 through a hole 21E formed in one flange 211 of a bracket member secured to the main frame 2| I.

Operation In operation of the apparatus to feed a tube such as that shown at 25 to a swaging hammer 26, the supporting carriage 24 and the pusher carriage 21 are coupled to the shifter rod 33 at points selected to accommodate the length of the tube to be pointed. After the carriages are coup-led, the position of the pulley 266 on the pusher carriage is adjusted by operation of hydraulic cylinder 263 to raise the cable 26| so it will not drag along the floor of the pit 23 as the carriages are moved along the track. The rubber-tired rollers |8| and |82 are then adjusted vertically by actuating pump |25 to control the supply of hydraulic pressure' to cylinders |21 and |28 for raising or lowering the movable frame 9| of the supporting carriage until a tube supported on the rubber-tired rollers is substantially aligned with the swaging hammer 26. Steadying rollers M5 and |41 are adjusted transversely by handle |53 to accommodate the particular tube and are also positioned vertically by actuating hydraulic cylinder |64 so they will hold the tube 25 just above the lower jaw of the swaging hammer 26.

After these adjustments have been made, the motor is started to drive the rollers and |82. A single tube 25 is then rolled onto the receiving arms |8| and |82, which, as has been previously explained, are normally positioned so their depressed portions |81 will receive and hold the tube just above the periphery of the rubbertired rollers i8! and |02. As the tube rolls along the receiving arms toward these depressed portions, it depresses a lever 28| to actuate a switch 282 (Fig. 4), which energizes a solenoid 283 (Fig. l0) to control the valve |94 to supply compressed air through conduit 284 so the piston in power cylinder |88 moves the piston rod outwardly.

This turns the shaft |83 in a direction to lower the receiving arms and the tube 25, which is thereby placed in substantially balanced position, onto the rubber-tired rollers |0| and |82. The tube is so arranged that its heavier end is toward the swagirig hammer 26 so it will also rest on the steadying rolle-rs M and |41. Since the motor iii is operating, the rollers |0| and |02 immediately begin turning the tube.

The operator then actuates an in push button which energizes solenoid 285 (Fig. to operate distributing valve 286 so it supplies compressed air from the conduit 59 to the main power cylinder 58 by way of the conduit 63, thereby moving the piston rod 65 inwardly so both the supporting carriage 24 and the pusher carriage 21 move from the positions shown in Figs. la and 2o., to feed the tube 25 toward the swaging machine 25. Operator of this in" push button also energizes solenoid 281 (Fig. 10), which controls valve 288 so air exhausted from the power cylinder 58 through the distributing valve 286 is exhausted through passage 289 to an exhaust conduit 299. The operation of the same in push button further energizes solenoid 29| to operate distributing valve 292 so compressed air supplied from cables |93 and 26| passes through conduit 293 to the power cylinder 241 and moves the piston rod 25| outwardly to move the pusher member 28 toward the tube 25. It will be apparent, therefore, that actuation of the in push button by the operator causes the two carriages to move rapidly toward the swaging hammer and at the saine time causes the pusher member 28 to move in the same direction to engage the trailing end of thetube 25.

Thus, the pusher member moves from its dotted position 28' to the full line position (Fig. 2). When the pusher member 28 contacts the end of the tube 25, the framework supporting the pusher member pivots about the rod 23| against the compression of spring 243 to actuate the switch 255 as previously explained. Actuation of the switch 255 de-energizes the solenoid 29| (Fig. 10) so the distributing valve 292 closes the conduit 293 and locks the piston in power cylinder 241 to retain the pusher member in engagement with the end of the tube.

As the carriages move the tube toward the swaging hammer; a cam 294 (Fig. l), carried by an arm 300 on the shifter rod 33. engages a lever 295 to actuate switch 296, which is supported beside the path of movement of the shifter rod 33. Actuation of the switch 296 de-energizes the solenoid 281 which shifts valve 288, so air exhausted from the main cylinder 58, through distributing valve 286, is exhausted through a restricted passage 291 (Fig. 10) to the exhaust conduit 290, thereby retarding the speed of the piston rod 65 so the carriages are moved to feed the tube 25 more slowly, at' a feeding speed, into the swaging hammer. preferably so positioned that it is actuated just before the tube enters the swaging hammer 26.

As the tube is being slowly fed by the carriages and at the same time turnedl so it will be uniformly pointed by theiswaging hammer, the

thrust or endwise pressure necessary to force the tube between the jaws of the hammer is applied by the pusher member 28. The operator may at any time stop the feeding of the tube 25 by actuating a stop push button to energize solenoid 298 (Fig. 10), which operates valve 299 to cut off the exhaust of air from conduit 290 thereby locking the piston in power cylinder 58.

If the feeding is not stopped, the carriages will continue slowly moving toward the swaging hammer until the operator actuates an out push button to reverse movement of the carriages. This out push button de-energizes the solenoid 285 to reverse the connections of the distributing valve 286 so air is supplied to the power cylinder 58 to move the piston rod 65 outwardly. The out push button also energizes solenoid 281 so air exhausted from the cylinder passes through unrestricted passage 289 and permits rapid reverse movement of the carriages. Solenoid 30| is also energized by the out push button to operate distributing valve 292 so compressed air from cable 26| is supplied to the power cylinder 241 to move the piston rod 25| inwardly and thereby withdraw the pusher member 28 from the end of the tube 25.

When the tube has been withdrawn from the hammer, a cam 302 (Fig. 1) on the shifter rod This switch 296 is 

